<p>My niece is a rising junior and has been particiating in the upward bound math and science program since her freshman year. As part of the program, she spends 6 weeks in residence at our state flagship university and is able to take part in faculty research. This year, she took a summer class at the local community college at the beginning of the summer. Instead of going to the upward bound program for the second half of the ummer break, her mom is thinking she should attend the second summer session. Her reasoning is that her daughter should take whatever college classes she can. Now granted, I have no idea of the significance of the research she is assisting with, but I think that it’s also a worthwhile activity and one that not many other local high school students will have. I’m thinking that partcipating in and completing upward bound, the research, and possible good recs from the professors outweigh taking more classes at the cc and will look great on her college apps. Also, if she completes this year, she will be eligible to spend 12 weeks next summer at the uni doing her own independent research with faculty as a guide as well as taking part in the faculty research. My niece really shows no preference one way or the other. But she has to decide within the next few days since her summer residential part of upward bound starts on Monday.</p>